sellon



(No Model.)

J. S. SELLON. AUTOMATIC SWITGH'FOR. SECONDARY BATTERIES. No. 892,826. Patented Nov. 18 1888.

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UNITED STATES PATENT JOHN S. SELLON, OF HATTON GARDENS, COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE ELECTRICAL ACCUMULATOR COMPANY, OF NEXV YORK.

AUTOMATlC SWiTCH FOR SECCNDARY BATTERiES.

SP1? OIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 392,826, dated November 13, 1888.

Application filed August 30, 1887. Serial No. 248,260. (No model.) Patented in En land January 13, 1333, X0. 217; in France June 20, 1883, No. 156,156, and in Germany July 1'7, 1on3, No. 27,868.

ent in Great Britain No. 2l7, dated January 13, 1883,) of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an automatic switch designed to preserve a uniform electro-motive force in the current furnished by a storagebattery or accumulator.

My invention consists ofan electromagnetic or other suitably-constructed switch, which can be actuated by the outgoing current when such current falls below a given electro-motive force, so as to cause the magnet or magnets to switch in one or more accumulators from time to time as may be required for the purpose of maintaining a constant or practically-constaut electro-motive force.

I provide a switch consisting of a pivoted radial arm in position to make contact with a series of radially disposed contact points. Said contact-points are connected to a series of tap-wires, each of the tap-wires in succes sion being connected to a point in the series of cells in advance of the one immediately preceding. The switch arm is operated by a ratchet and pawl, producing a step-by-step motion. This pawl is operated by an electromagnet when said magnet is introduced into the working-circuit. A second magnet is n0rmally in the workingcircuit, and operates by virtue of variations in the electro-motive force to make and break a short circuit round the firstnamed magnet, so that when the electromotive force falls below a predetermined point the short circuit round the first magnet is broken and said magnet is operated to change the position of the switch-arm.

I will now describe my invention by reference to the accompanying drawing.

S is the automatic switch.

5 is an arm pivot-ed at s, as is the ratchet wheel. 8. Arm s is in position to make contact with a series of radially-disposed contacts,

M is a coarse-wire electro-magnet connected in the main lead 2. Upon the free end of its armature-bar a is a pawl, B, operating the ratchet-wheel s. N is a fine-wire clectro-magnet of high resistaneelocated between the main leads 1 and 2. It is operated by variations in 6 the potential between said leads, and when the electro-motive force is at a pretermined height its armature K is attracted, closing a short circuit, 3 4, at the contact-points l) 1) round electromagnet M, which is thus practically rc- 7o moved from circuit.

Normally the parts are in the position shown and the required electro-motive force is flowing in the working-circuit. It, now, the electro -motive force drops below the predetermined point, magnet N releases its armature K, circuit 3 a is broken at D D, and current flows in magnet M, which attracts its armature, operating pawl B to move ratchet 6 one step ahead and carryin arm 5' from contact 0 So to contact 0, thus introducing an additional cell, which adds its electro-motive force to that of the other cells and causes magnetNto again attract its armature K, closing point-s D D and cutting magnet M out of circuit. ation is repeated as often as the electro-motive force drops, until the entire number of cells are included, when the battery is to be recharged.

\/hat I claim, and desire to secure by Letgo ters Patent, is

1. The combination of two or more cells of secondary battery, a switch consisting of two or more tired contactpoints connected at different points in the said battery, respectively,

and a movable contact operated by an electromagnet in the working-circuit, with a second electro-magnet operated by variations in the The opposite ter- 55 This oper- 8 5 elcctro-motive force to make and break a short circuit around the first-named magnet.

2. The combination of a series of cells of secondary battery, a switch consisting of two or more fixed contact-points in the said series of cells, respectivel y, a movable contact form connected to a point in said circuit betwecna different pair of cells, a movable contact in position to connect with said series of fixed con tacts forming one terminal of the divided workingcircuit, a step by step mechanism for changing the position of said movable contact, an electro-magnet having a coarse-wire winding, and an electro-magnet having a fine-wire winding, both located in the zi'orking-circuit and cooperating to control said step-by-step mechanism and change the position of the movable contact, substantially as described.

Signed at London, in the county of Middlesex, this 13th day of August, A. D. 1887.

JOHN S. SELLON.

\Vitnesscs:

J OIIN NEWTON, \VM. JOHN W'EEKs,

130th of 9 Birchin Lane, London. 

